Al Sadd’s coach Bruno Miguel
Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd’s coach Bruno Miguel yesterday said that the Wolves are expecting a tough challenge when they take on Iraqi football heavyweights Al Shorta in the quarter-final of the prestigious King Salman Club Cup today.
The encounter, which will take place at the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium, promises to be an intense battle between two formidable teams vying for a spot in the semi-finals.
“We are looking forward to another strong match that will help us prepare for the new season,” stated Miguel, emphasising the significance of the upcoming game.
“We anticipate a tough challenge against a strong team that has only suffered one defeat during the group stage.”
Describing Al Shorta as an organized force both defensively and offensively, coach Miguel singled out their strong midfield and talented players as key factors to be reckoned with and that his team was fully prepared to face their rivals.
“The squad consists of 20 players, all in the same state of readiness,” Miguel disclosed when asked about Al Sadd’s squad for the crucial encounter.
“We are in good shape and have multiple player options to support us during the game, in order to secure our spot in the semi-finals of the championship.”
Al Sadd’s Qatar international Tarek Salman also agreed with his coach.
“The match against Al Shorta will be tough, and there are no easy teams in the quarter-finals. All the matches will be highly competitive.”
He added, “Al Shorta has exceptional players, most of whom are part of the Iraqi national team. We are eager to reach the furthest point in this championship. Our encounters against Iraqi clubs and national teams are always tough; they play with great spirit and determination,” Salman said.
“We have sufficient experience to secure a win. We must focus and capitalize on opportunities to earn qualification for the semi-finals,” Salman added.
Al Sadd qualified for the quarter-finals by topping Group B with seven points (two victories and one draw). The Wolves kicked off their campaign with a goalless draw against Morocco’s Wydad and then showcased their prowess by defeating Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia with a thrilling 3-2 victory. They continued their winning streak by securing a 1-0 triumph over Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya.
Their opponents, Al Shorta, have also displayed remarkable skill and determination, earning their place in the quarterfinals as the second team in Group A with four points.
The Iraqi side delivered an early statement by defeating Tunisia’s Sfaxien 1-0. They faced a slight setback in a goalless draw against Tunisia’s Esperance before losing 1-2 to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad.
Today’s match kicks off at 6:00pm.
